May Day!: Kiss the Bride

Our ceremony was drawing to a close, and Mr. Goodlaff and I were so close to being declared man and wife.  Houdini had stuck to the script that we gave him, but we also wanted him to put a little bit of his own spin on things, so Mr. Goodlaff and I told him he could add (almost) anything he wanted to our ceremony.  And he did.

May Day!: Rings and Roses

After we said our vows, Houdini continued with the ceremony, by asking Groomsman M to do our second reading. He, like Sister Goodlaff, was shanghaied into helping out at our rehearsal dinner the night before:

Miss Goodlaff and Mr. Goodlaff have chosen a poem to share with you entitled "Love" by Roy Croft.

Groomsman M - if you will.

 Love (a poem by Roy Croft)
 I love you
 Not only for what you are,
 But for what I am
 When I am with you.
 I love you,
 Not only for what
 You have made of yourself,
 But for what
 You are making of me.
I love you
 For the part of me
 That you bring out;
I love you
 For putting your hand
 Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
 All the foolish, weak things
 That you can't help
 Dimly seeing there,
 And for drawing out
 Into the light
 All the beautiful belongings
 That no one else had looked
 Quite far enough to find.

May Day!: We Vow...

After our first reading, it was time for our vows.  Houdini continued:

Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. By making this commitment today, Miss Goodlaff and Mr. Goodlaff's relationship will become stronger, better, and deeper.  

Today, Miss Goodlaff and Mr. Goodlaff demonstrate their devotion to each other by dedicating themselves to a life together, and they show their respect for each other by setting forth to honor the vows they have created.  

Today, their lives, which began on separate paths, will be joined as one.

May Day!: Getting Hitched

Mr Goodlaff and I joined our hands together, and Houdini began:

***

Miss Goodlaff...

Mr. Goodlaff...
I am so glad you are both here.
Thank you for including me on your special day.

Welcome, family, friends, and loved ones. You have been invited here this afternoon to share in the celebration of Miss Goodlaff and Mr. Goodlaff's marriage.

By stating their vows to one another in the presence of friends and family, Miss Goodlaff and Mr. Goodlaff have chosen to share their promises to one another with you. You are their community—the people who have played an important role in their lives, and the people who they hope will be a part of their lives in the years to come. Today, we honor them by sharing in their public expression of their commitment to one another. Your presence here today is a demonstration of your love for Miss Goodlaff and for Mr. Goodlaff, as well as your support of their decision to marry.

May Day!: Here Comes the Bride

After our flower girl, Dee, started down the aisle, the doors at the back of the Stone Hall closed, and Daddy Goodlaff and I stepped forward. 

The string trio began the opening chords of Canon in D...

And the doors opened: 

Daddy Goodlaff and I headed down the aisle, and I as I walked past my family and friends, I tried to take it all in--to smile and take mental pictures of the room, the people, and my soon-to-be husband.

May Day!: First, We Walk

It was go time. Everyone lined up, ready to head into the Stone Hall for our ceremony.  Daddy Goodlaff and I were the last to leave the small room where we were hiding from our guests, and it wasn't until we began walking towards the room that the nervousness hit.  As far as nerves go, it was a mild case, mostly triggered by the thought of walking down the aisle without tripping on my heels.  Oh yeah.  And all those people. 

First up, the parents were escorted to their seats:

SMIL Goodlaff

MIL Goodlaff

Mama Goodlaff

License to Wed

I believe I let it slip a few days ago, but Mr. Goodlaff and I went into the County Recorder's office last Friday to get our Marriage License so we could make this whole thing legal. I've mentioned before that I work in Elections, which just happens to be the sister office to the Recorder's office.  What does this mean in the grand scheme of marriage license issuance?

It means we should have gone to another county in California where no one knows us, that's what!

Mr. Goodlaff and I were calmly sitting there, dealing with paperwork, when:



Paparazzi! The ladies in the Recorder's office were instructed to call Elections when we walked in the door, and soon after, the camera came out.  It's not because of me that this process is documented, but my um, helpful, co-workers.

Pictures aside, the process was relatively painless.